Lou...

Looking at news story right now by a mom of an autistic child that says diet has had a noticeable affect. Her doctor agrees and says that a change in diet might help, not cure, 60% of the kids. Very interesting if true.

If it's at the intersection of Vista Blvd & Bonnet Creek it must be new because I drove through there a couple of times on Thursday and didn't notice it.

That part of the road is not used by WDW buses and very few guests would need to use it, so maybe an advisory was not needed.

I want to try Boatright's, but the rest of the family isn't such a fan of cajun-type cooking, so I haven't tried it.

I'll go with you!  I LOVE cajun food.

If you let me come, 40% off the tab.

Carousel of Progress.  I'm a sucker for the old standards. 

Reprint from "The HUB"

The parents' names are John and Sara, the children's names are Patricia and Jimmy and the uncle's name is Orville.

There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" was the original song for the 1964 World's Fair attraction, but "The Best Time of Your Life" was the song for the Carousel's opening at Disney World in 1975. In 1994, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" was brought back to the attraction.

Show length, 20.75 minutes

We were the only ones on the bus and she jabbered at him non-stop from the time she got on the bus to the time she got off. I know he couldn't have heard anything over the noise of the engine, but he nodded and responded the whole time like he was having the conversation of his lifetime.

I don't know why it is, but we can hear conversations about a third of the way down the bus. People will be whispering and I can hear what they're saying. So watch out what you call the driver. Most of us enjoy talking to the passengers and with a doubt, the best part of the job is the kids. I especially enjoy talking and interacting with them.

A few weeks ago at the end of a trip, people were getting off a full bus and I noticed a mom working her way up through the crowd getting off in order to get to me. Turns out her little boy had been looking all over WDW for a toy bus with Mickey in it. Well he finally found it and insisted to his mom that he show it to me. I felt so honored.

Can you tell me why Vista Blvd is going to be closed from 2/7/11 until 3/11/11?

An advisory regarding the closure of Vista Blvd or Vista Rd has not popped up yet. That's a long time for a major bus route to be closed completely . I would think that an advisory would have been issued by now if the road is being closed on the 7th. Did you hear it from an official Disney source? Whenever a bus route is changed, bus drivers get an early warning and I haven't heard anything about it yet. I'll keep checking though. 

LEGO Imagination Center at Downtown Disney Marketplace is conducting a renovation project that will increase its overall footprint by nearly 3,500 square-feet and add new LEGO exterior models of favorite Disney characters. Expect to see construction walls in the area. The project is expected to be complete in mid-April, 2011.

LEGO Imagination Center will operate in a temporary "pop-up" location between Once Upon A Toy and Earl of Sandwich.

Three buildings in Town Square are covered by printed tarps.

Saratoga Springs is installing a new pool at the Paddock. It will be three times as large as the old pool.

Yacht & Beach Dock

Routine maintenance at the Transportation Dock will be performed starting Feb. 28 through Mar 24th. While this work is being completed, FriendShip boat transportation to Epcot?, Disney?s Hollywood Studios? and neighboring resorts will not be available. We anticipate the dock to reopen in late March.

Bus transportation will be provided to Disney?s Hollywood Studios from the resort bus stop. Epcot, Disney?s BoardWalk Inn & Villas, and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

Hotels are accessible by walking.

The Wilderness Lodge will be refurbishing it's bus area.

Two of the bus stops at MK are closed for refurbishment.

Blizzard Beach is closed for refurbishment until approx March 26

The PORS resort is going through a refurbishment to replace the double beds rooms with queen beds. The refurbishment work is expected to continue through Spring 2012.

The POFQ resort is currently going through a refurbishment to replace the double beds rooms with queen beds. The refurbishment work is expected to continue through April 2011.

This is our 7 year old, 10lb Silky Terrier Buddy. Silky Terriers are a cross between a Yorkie and Australian Terrier.

Lexi's bigger half cousin.

Doesn't like most other dogs which is a characteristic of the Silkys but likes people. He would stay out all day and hunt for FL lizards all day if we let him. 

It's not the miles, it's the traffic and the number of stops.

I'm a little surprised about the traffic comment. I don't find it to be an issue from PO to MK.

There might have been once each trip where we waited more than 10 minutes for a bus

You were lucky as twenty minutes is the goal.

On the first trip we even had a bus driver go out of his way to help us.

Disney expects and requires that drivers go above and beyond when they can. If he hadn't offered and was reported, he'd be talked to.

If he was the BW floater bus, he was just doing his job, take you to your resort. WDW Transportation tries to take care of stragglers.

If he told you he was heading to the barn, it was a line. There is no barn. Last shift drivers drop the bus off for washing & cleaning and another driver takes that same bus to the park that will have it the next morning.

Drivers are usually given more than enough time to do what they have to at the end of the shift and if they go over, they're paid for it.

For anyone interested, listed below are the approx. bus travel times from the PO bus exit to park entrances.

PO/MK 11mins

PO/Epcot 8 mins

PO/DHS 10 mins.

See a PO refurbishment update "Around the World" in the "WDW and Disney Park Discussions"

The only big drawback was the distance to MK. POR is next to EPCOT, which makes it kind of a long bus ride to MK.

POR to MK is no more than 10 minutes, less than 5 miles.

I was napping. I had been lugging people around all day on a bus that had some guy's name on the sides at a place that had the same name. I'd probably flunk the test anyways.

I estimate that I've been to WDW 2500 times, so if Al can't answer a question, I probably can't either.

It's like fine wine, gets better with age.

I mean the TR, not you Lisa. Well you are getting better too, but not because your older. Never mind.

Very very funny.

Nice job.

TCD has his work cut out for him.

These are things that are going on property wide. They are all official and not rumors. The list is updated daily in red.

LEGO Imagination Center at Downtown Disney Marketplace is preparing for an extensive renovation project that will increase its overall footprint by nearly 3,500 square-feet and add new LEGO exterior models of favorite Disney characters. Expect to see construction walls in the area starting January 27, 2011. The project is expected to be complete in mid-April, 2011.

LEGO Imagination Center will operate in a temporary "pop-up" location between Once Upon A Toy and Earl of Sandwich.

Three buildings in Town Square are covered by printed tarps.

Two of the bus stops at MK are closed for refurbishment.

Mickey?s Toontown Fair has its last day of operation this Friday, February 11, 2011, after which time it will close to begin transformation into the Storybook Circus section of New Fantasyland.

Starting Saturday, February 12, the following entertainment changes take effect:

    Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will greet guests from the Tomorrowland patio, located to the right of Space Mountain.

    The Disney Princesses will hold court in the Adventureland Veranda.

    Set times for these locations will be included in the Magic Kingdom Times Guide.

    Tinker Bell & friends will be joining the cast at Epcot, greeting guests at the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden

    near MouseGear.

Blizzard Beach is closed for refurbishment until approx March 26

Effective March 1, 2011, dinner at Le Cellier Steakhouse will be elevated to a Signature dining experience, offering an exciting new menu that will change seasonally and an expanded wine list.

For Disney Dining Plan and Disney Deluxe Dining Plan Guests, this change for dinner will require two (2) table-service meal entitlements per person.  Lunch will remain one (1) table-service meal entitlement per person.

Disney Junior ? Live on Stage! will debut in March 2011 at Disney?s Hollywood Studios.  The new production will replace Playhouse Disney ? Live!

Disney Junior ? Live on Stage! will include current favorites - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins - as well as a new segment, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, based on a new Disney Junior series that will debut in February 2011.

Disney's new "Art of Animation Resort" has a web page at disneyworld.com.  It gives a short preview of the resort.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/art-of-animation-resort/

Work is underway at Town Square Exposition Hall to transform it into Town Square Theater where Mickey Mouse will greet guests at the Magic Kingdom. When the building re-opens this spring, guests will be able to use a first-of-its-kind FASTPASS for this new meet and greet location.

The FASTPASS will allow guests to visit Mickey Mouse more conveniently.

During construction of the New Fantasyland, Mickey will share the new location with the Disney Princesses. FASTPASS will be available for both.

Guests will also be able to enjoy a new merchandise shop within the building. Along with a refurbished area for Disney Photo Imaging inside the lobby, there will be a new shop at the exit of the character experiences which will also open this spring.

AK will no longer have an evening EMH. They will have two instead of one morning EMH.

The Disney Company recognizes that Grad Nite has become a rite of passage for high school seniors and are proud to have hosted this special event for 39 years. Given changing business dynamics and a desire to provide graduates more flexibility in celebrating at WDW, this year?s Disney?s Grad Nite will be the last at the Walt Disney World Resort.

See March Activity Schedule.

Have either of you tried any of the more "adventurous" stuff there?  What did you think?

I have no clue what any of their stuff is or what I had, but it was good, whatever it was.

Jay & Paula, wasn't that a singing duo from the 50s. Not that I would know that mind you. TnBob would though.

Welcome, and we have one more local too.

I was concierge at the GF and of course I'd recommend it and make ADRs all the time, but do you believe it, I've never tried it. Gutta do it.

Been there a couple of times and I agree with you. But it is different.

Who's going, me.

When, when there's a Fiend there.

I have a friend who swears by Le Cellier.

Been there. IMO, it's just ok, a little over rated.

Tragically, he became ill while at Disney, was rushed home and died.

Unfortunately it does happen from time to time. Hopefully he got some enjoyment.

GKTW would not able to to their fine work without the support of all the local wish organizations around the country. It's a team effort.

No, a big thanks to you.

When I first joined the DisBoards, the first Fiend I contacted was Judy. The picture of her, Ken, and the 4 angels at that time, just said, you need to get to know these people. I did, and can't say how proud I am that I did. I'm in contact with Judy on a fairly regular basis and words can't describe. And of course Ken is right there with her. In a million years I couldn't take on what they have. I can't get my head around what it takes to to do what they're doing day in and day out.

So it's a big thank you to the Hammetts. I'm glad you joined us.